Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1887-08-13
ONE SINGLE FAULT.
Why a Noble Soldier Was Dis
guised as a Coachman.

guised as a Coachman.
| will tell you the story MS it was
told to me, and precisely asst occurred,
for it is not Il fiction intended to show
how a single fault is sufficient to de-
stroy the whole life of a man. but 4
fact, in the recital of which | can not
give you the real names, as it would
reveal the secrets of a family that fol
years has held the highest official and
social ranks in one of the principal
States of Germany.
One morning Marshal C., then but a
General, finding himself in need of a
coachman, applied to n woman in the
Rue Saint Dominique, who kept a fur
nished lodging house for men of that
class, and also carriages for hire. At
first She declared it was impossible to
serve him; she had none of whom she
would be responsible, as all the coach
men who drove her carriages were
hired by the day, and were not lodged
at her house. There was one, and
only one, whom she could recommend
to the General, u sort of oversccr of
the rest, but it vas precisely on account
of his good qualities hat she desired
to retain him in her service. All the
same, as the General insisted and was
an excellent customer, she finally con-
cluded to yield.
There was nothing, however, unus-
ual in this mans appearance or man
ner when one established in the Gen
erals household, unless it was an cx-
IRENE politeness or polish of drmcanor.
a scrupulous care to keep himself
apart from the rest of the domcsticS,
and a rare eXactitude in the accom-
plishment of his duties that rendered
him invaluable TO his master. Yet,
strange to say, the consideration and
preference exhibited toward the coach
man did not as usual arouse the dislike
OF the other servants, for there was
something about him, u profound, un-
alterable sadness, that made it impos-
sible to believe that it was his pride
which separated him from his fellows.
AT the dinner hour he seated himself
with the others, it is true. but he
ate with gravity and in silence,
and retired to his stable as
soon as the repast was fin
ished. In the chateau of General C.
the care of the horses left Muller with
agreat deal of leisure on his hands.
nevertheless he never reSortcd to the
wine-shop, or INDUCED in play like the
others, but seated himself under the
ccdars in the park TO read. These
peculiarities, which they recalled later
ON, at the time a>tonished no one.
"Muller is Il bear his comrades de-
cidcd, IAN unsociablc bear and they
contcntcd themselves with leaving him
alone.
Two years passed in this way, Muller
following the General wherever war
conducted him. This was in 1907.
In one Of these periodical wander
ings they found themselves at Raouse,
in Dalmatia, where the Emperor had
coniidcd to General c. the care of the
Government. 1t was in this little city
that the adventure-but stop; | am
ahead of my story.
One day when the Governor-General
As Muller'S employer was then called.
was to receive at dinner a large party
OF his own personal staff and Il number
ofthc principal officers of an Austrian
corps stationed in the neighborhood.
he was obliged to call into reouisition
the services Of all the servants in the
house. Muller was, of course, in
ciuded, and when the hour arrived, he
was waiting in the dining-room, his
napkin on his arm. The crowded table
and the requirements of the guests
doubtless prevented him from noticing
any one in particular ut first. Dinner
was nearly over, when suddenly as he
stopped to remove Il dish for the he.
ginning of the third course one of the
Austrian officers, happening to turn 4
little to give him room, uttered a sharr
cry OF surprise. Muller, not less dis.
turbed and unnerved than the officer
became as white as n ghost, the cove,
that he was lifting fell from his hand
and he quilted the salle-a-manger in ,
state of agitation remarked bv all
Nevertheless the scene had passed 5,
rapidly that no one was able to 81,
whether it was the agitation that hac
caused the awkwardncss, or the awk
wardness the agitation, but dinner wa
finished without Muller rcappearing.
In the meantime, however, the Gen
eral was not content. He, at least, ha,
seen that the Austrian officer and hi
coachman were not strangers to eacI
other; also, that the establishment be
trayed was not the establishment of
master recognizing an old servant.
strange emotion, a profound alarm
had shown itself in the expression G
these two men as they found then
selves face to face. Moreover, the pre-
occupation of the Austriap's name
during the remainder of the meal la
not escaped him. Had u wal been &C
ing on between France and Austris
General c. would have felt convince
that Muller was playing the role of
spy-a supposition under the existin,
state Of things impossible. 1t wa
more reasonable to think that tn
eoaeiman had committed = crimes th